Suspender-buckle



(No Model.)

J. KENNEDY. SUSPENDER BUCKLE.

No. 405,962. Patented June 25, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KENNEDY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ASSIGNOR TO THE OSBORNE & CHEES- HAN COMPANY, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

SUSPENDER-BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,962, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed March 22, 1889. Serial No. 304,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JOHN KENNEDY,a citizen of the Fnited States, residing at Birming- 11am, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Suspender-Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to Suspender-buckles and to devices for securing said buckles to the suspender-ends.

It is my purpose to provide simple and inexpensive means whereby the suspcndcr-ends or two-part straps may be readily, instantly, and securely connected to the buckle and as easily cast off or disconnected therefrom; and

to these ends the invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the buckle, showing portions of the suspender and suspender-end. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the buckle shown in Fig. I. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 2 upon the line a: :1). Fig.4 is a detail view of the buckle-frame and its attachments. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clasp-plate composing the cast-off for carrying the suspender-ends. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a buckle-frame an d cast-off, showing a modified construction. Fig.7 is acentral vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a buckle-frame consisting of a seamless tube, having a claw-plate 2 inserted through a slot 3 in said tube to engage the suspender. Upon the depending extended portion 4: of the claw-plateare formed lateral integral extensions, which are folded or bent first at right angles to the depending portion of said claw-plate and then toward each other, the ends at lying in substantially the same plane, whereby a rectangular tubular or substantially tubular structure or frame is formed. Upon the lower edge of the main portion or body of the claw-plate are formed teeth or lugs 5, which are bent or turned inward at right angles to the plate on which they are formed, as shown in Fig. 4:. These teeth or lugs are separated from each other by any suitable interval.

The numeral 6 denotes a clasp-plate having any suitable eye or loop 7, to which a suspender-end may be attached, said plate being provided with a spring-plate 8, which may be formed by bending the end of the clasp-plate over upon itself. The spring-plate is provided with a tang 9, having such width that it will freely pass between the lugs or teeth 5, and provided upon 'each side thereof with shoulders 10, which are thrown into engagement with such lugs by the elasticity of the portion 8, the entire width of the plate 6 being such as to permit it to enter the rectangular tubular structure upon the claw-plate. As the folded plate is inserted therein, the lugs 5 bear against the side edges of the spring-plate and compress or force it toward the clasp-plate 6 until the shoulders 10 pass the lugs,when the elasticity of the spring-plate throws said shoulders over the lugs and brings the tang 9 between the lugs, thereby fastening the claspplate firmly within the inclosing tubular frame and forming a simple, inexpensive, and convenient cast-off for the suspender-ends.

Instead of forming the tubularfralne a upon a depending extension of the claw-plate, I may employ the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein the tubular extension forms an integral portion of the buckle-frameproper. In this construction the depending integral portion 1 of the bucklefra1ne is provided with lateral wings or extensions 13, which arebent in to angular form, substantially in the manner described in connection with the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and at,while the clasp-plate or cast-off 14. is of similar form to that already set forth, and is provided with a spring-plate which engages with inwardly-turned lugs 15 on the lower edge of the tubular frame. In both forms the tang or prolongation 9, between the shoulders 10 of the clasp-plate, is widened and curved to present a suitable finger-piece, whereby the plate may be compressed to release the shoulders from the lu In the modiiied construction the claw-plate is wholly in dependent of the cast-off and may be of any desired form.

\Vhile I have shown the tubular extension as forming part of two diiferent portions of a buckle, it is evident that it may be applied without material change to other forms of buckle. Moreover, the said tubular extension maybe modified in shape and construction without departing from my invention, as it may be angular, as shown, or any other suitable form may be imparted thereto. The ends of the lateral extensions forming the tubular frame also may be brought into conjunction, thereby closing the tube entirely, or they may simply be of such length as to form supports for the edges of the clasp-plate, which carries the eye to which the suspender-ends are attached.

-I have shown and described the cast-off plate as made of a single piece of metal; but I do not confine myself thereto.

Theinvention forms a simple, durable, and easily-operated cast-off attachment for the suspender-ends applicable to any form of buckle and at extremely low cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1; As an improved article of manufacture, a Suspender-buckle comprising a frame hav ing a swinging clamp-lever for clamping the Suspender on the frame, and a pendent tubular frame having a portion bent inward to form lugs, and a suspender-end-carryin g cast-off provided with a diverging spring-plate having a tang passing between the inward ly-ben t lugs, and provided with shoulders to engage the lugs, substantially as described.

2. A Suspender-buckle having a central depending tubular frame formed of a plate of metal having integral lateral extensions bent rearwardly and then toward each other, in combination with a clasp plate having a spring-plate provided With a tang adapted to pass between rearwardly-turned lugs on the lower end of said tubular frame, which lugs engage square shoulders on each side of said tang, said plate carrying the Suspender-end, substantially as described.

3. A suspender-buckle composed of a tubular frame having a slot in which is mounted a claw-plate provided with a depending tubular frame integral with the claw-plate, and a clasp-plate having an eye or loop carrying the Suspender-ends, and provided with a diverging spring-plate having shoulders engaging inwardly-turned lugs on the tubular frame, and a tang passing between said shoulders, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a buckle-frame l, of a claw-plate 2, pivotally mounted therein, and provided with a depending tubular frame 4, having lugs 5, and a clasp-plate 6, having an eye or loop 7, and a spring-plate 8, provided with a tang 9 and having shoulders 10 in each side thereof, said tang having an extremity serving as a finger-piece, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN KENNEDY. WVitnesses:

FRANKLIN BURTON, E. O. DREW. 

